Newport Dunes Resort

With our limited schedule, when we really want to "get away from it all" we drive an hour and a half up to Newport Beach and stay at the Newport Dunes RV Resort ("the Ritz of RV parks"). Most of the spaces are packed close together, but that's about the only down side for us. If you want more space, you can splurge for the waterfront sites, but you had better reserve way in advance and be prepared to spend more than for a luxury hotel room.

The sprawling RV park sits on its own private lagoon off Newport Bay (called the back bay). This is a kids' paradise, with a water playground (trampolines, climbers, etc.), boat rentals, playgrounds, games and activities, a salt water swimming pool and arcade with pool tables. Movement around the park is slow because of all the golf carts, electric scooters, skateboards, bikes, etc. If you don't get enough exercise walking around the lagoon or into town, you can work out in the marina in a room overlooking the rows of yachts and sailboats.

We like to bring a boat (extra charge for parking the boat in the far parking lot near the launch ramp) and use it to sight-see around Newport Beach and Balboa Island. This is a leisurely tour, as the speed limit throughout the Bay is 5 miles per hour. But this gives you more time to view the 100 foot yachts bobbing in front of the movie star homes along the water. We park at one of the public docks and walk around the shops and mansions. Sometimes we dock on the Newport Beach side, or ride the ferry across, and walk or bike along one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

This really does not qualify as a camping trip. But it's a fun way to break out of our routine without driving far from home.